One of the things that I was excited to do in Sicily was climbing Mt. Etna. At approximately 10,922 feet high, this largest active volcano in Europe was visible from the back deck of our villa. Every morning I’d take a look at how beautiful it was, it’s very top visible in the earlier morning hours, and then watch as the clouds circled about it come mid-morning.

The presence of Mt. Etna, along with its history – both true and legend, dominates the island of Sicily, Make no mistake about it, this is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. This decade alone has seen two major eruptions, in 2001 and 2002, both of which caused damage to both the mountain and surrounding areas.

The three of us were all interested in climbing Mt. Etna, and our choice of how to scale the mountain took us to Etna Sud, the southern slope. We drove there, allowing about an hour for the drive. If you don’t have a car, or don’t want to tackle the winding, hillside roads, there are plenty of tour buses that make the journey and you can leave the driving to them.

I’d done a bit of reading to prepare for climbing Mt. Etna, and a pretty consistent theme seemed to be that the trip would take about 4 hours. NOT! Here’s the real story!

The southern starting point for climbing Mt. Etna, at just under 6,200 feet, is called Rifugio Sapienza, Here we lined up a guide, got a quick bite to eat, and waited for our 10:30 start time. This area has a number of guide options, we selected one that offered a guide who spoke a bit of English. The options offered are quite similar, as are the prices, so find a company and guide that you feel comfortable with. There are also places to buy something to eat and drink – but remember – there are no bathrooms on the mountain.

I wore shorts for the expedition, and although I wasn’t the only one, I do ask myself what was I thinking! It was a very sunny day and I was out for a day hike, and it didn’t occur to me that it might get pretty darn cold as we moved up Mt. Etna. Fortunately, our guide company had hiking boots and heavy jackets available (no additional charge). You’ll need these. I’d also recommend wearing jeans or long heavy pants, both for warmth and to protect yourself from cuts and scrapes from the lava rocks, a hat to protect for both the sun and wind, and a pair of gloves. You’ll also want to bring plenty of water.

The first leg of the journey to the top was easy. A funicular (cable car) took us part way up, with the ending terminal situated at about 8,200 feet. The funicular was re-built after it was totally destroyed in the 2001 eruption, and as you’re looking out and down you can see the lava fields that remain. The terminal has great photo opportunities, and is also the last stop for a bathroom break and additional food.

The next stage of climbing Mt. Etna is to climb into 4×4 mini buses for a bouncing ride over lava terrain to the area of the Torre del Filosofo. This stop puts you at about 9,580 feet, and although the sun was shining brightly it was cold and windy. For many people, this is as far as they’ll come. That still makes for a great trip, and the view is spectacular. There are some craters that you can walk to, some lava fields to check out, and photo ops galore.

But if you’re continuing on to the top Mt. Etna, it now gets down to just you and the mountain. . . and your guide to lead you there.

Our group huddled together, got our final instructions, and set out. I was giddy inside, excitement conquering cold, and ready to make my way to the summit. We set out over lava rocks, over some remaining ice, and skirted soft, sandy lava fields, making our way to the top. All around us was spectacular natural beauty, truly jaw dropping, and between the cold shivers, I reveled in it. There was only about 1400 feet between me and the top of Mt. Etna.

Everything was going great. . . at least for a couple hundred feet. And then it felt like I’d been hit up the side of the head. I felt dizzy, nauseous, and I started to hyperventilate. Our guide had me scoot to the front of the group, following right behind him. This was both for him to help set a pace that was good for me, as well as to keep an eye on how I was doing.

I made it a little bit further, but soon found that my ears were blocked and I couldn’t clear them no matter how hard I tried. It was hard for me to breathe, I still felt dizzy and nauseous, and my head was throbbing. I recognized that this wasn’t a good thing, and so did the guide. He quickly took out a walkie talkie and called for someone to assist. I convinced my traveling companions to continue climbing, and then met another guide walked me a short ways to a waiting jeep where a driver took me down to the Torre del Filosofo area. The guides have a kind of shack there, and they invited me in. I still felt like I might get sick, so opted to lay down on a bench to try to get my bearings. After about half an hour in the cold wind, I staggered inside where I could try to warm up while I waited for the guys to meet me for the trip down the mountain. They guides at the shack generously brought me espresso, trying to help me keep me warm. They didn’t speak English, and I don’t speak Sicilian, but I curled up in a corner and tried to get my bearings.

Meanwhile, back on the mountain, the guys continued to the summit! They reported that it was windy and cold, but an amazing sight. Steam and clouds swirled around the crater, as seen in the photos, and it made both of them a little nervous getting too close to the edge. A story was told about a Spanish hiker who had fallen into one of the craters while climbing Mt. Etna, the result was the naming of the site as the Spanish Crater. I’m not sure if it’s true, or merely local legend, but it definitely made an impact on them and they steered clear of any edges. After about an hour on the crater, they climbed back down the mountain, meeting up with me at the guide shack.

Once back down from the crater, one of the guys opted to ride with me back down to the base (4×4 and then the funicular), while the other opted to remain with the group and walk all the was back down to the base of the mountain. He said it was almost a harder walk down than going up, as there were lots of sandy lava field which made it difficult to get a sure footing.

Why did I get so sick while climbing Mt. Etna? It turns out that I had altitude sickness, and while not uncommon during exertion at altitude, I was surprised given my effortless acclimation to cabin altitude on an airplane. While I remained shaky for most of the rest of that day, within another day or so all symptoms were completely gone, and it didn’t interfere with any other activities.

In the case of MJ vs. The Volcano, the volcano won. But I’m sure glad that I gave it a try! And if you’re travels in Italy bring you to Sicily, I suggest you give climbing Mt. Etna a try.

Time: Various times, based on which outfitter you choose and which climbing options. We opted for the full day excursion which includes the funicular ride, 4×4 ride, and the guide walk up and all the way down. It takes approximately 6 hours. Shorter tours are available.

Price: The all day option was 70 Euros, which included the funicular ride, the 4×4 transportation, use of hiking boots and heavy coat, and the guide leader. Prices will vary based on tour length.

Precautions: You must be able bodied, and in reasonably good shape to climb the mountain. If you suffer from asthma, are pregnant, or have a heart condition, you may not be allowed to participate. I’d recommend caution for kids under 12 years of age, as the winds at the top can be brutal.

I was so sick that wine and food were the last thing on my mind. A part of me would like to try it again, maybe allowing a little more time to get acclimated before setting off. The guys said it was a fabulous experience and view. But, another part of me is a little nervous about going through the process again.

We just went to the base and talked to the guides there. There were several companies that offered guides to the top of the volcano, so you really shouldn’t have a problem. We were there in late June, and had no problem walking up and booking. I wouldn’t think that April would be much busier.

We didn’t do tours of any tunnels, so I’m not sure what that might refer to.

You can take a tour to Mt Etna, which provides bus transportation and probably a pre-booked tour. We drove there, and then talked to guides once we arrived. They spoke reasonably good English, and it was very easy.

I hope you have a great time, and would love to hear all about your experience.

I am going to Mt Etna hike in late Sep this year as well. and looking for some company to organise the tour for us. Do you have any suggest that any company could pre-organize the tour instead to find them when we are there? cheers

I can’t make any specific recommendations for advance planning. We just hired someone on site. I think the best option would be to check with a travel agent who specializes in Italy and let them help you with decisions and arrangements.

Be sure to stop back and tell me about your experiences after your visit.

We felt the effects of the 11,000 feet of altitude in Cuzco, but after that, climbing Huayna Picchu (7,900 to 8,900 feet) was doable. Not sure we would have made it had we not had a few days gasping for air in Cuzco first.

Climbing Mt Etna has long been on my list of things to do and see! we have been to Sicily a few times but have never made it up there! Now you’ve inspired me to just go do it… thanks for sharing your experiences!

Hi MJ,
Thanks for the great info & sharing your adventure up etna. My husband & I are heading to Sicily in July 2014 & I have asthma & allergies, I was wondering if you know if there is a certain part of Etna that is ok for asthmatics? As I’m having trouble finding information on this? Thank you

Since you suffer from asthma, I’d recommend that you speak with your doctor about any concerns you should have in making the climb. Making it to the top puts you at nearly 11,000 feet (elevation), and I had problems at a much lower level with altitude sickness. We had come from sea level to this altitude in one day, and there was probably a better way to accommodate the change, but with a health issue, you really want to talk with your doctor and see what precautions s/he may recommend. You may have no problems at all, but you’ll want to be prepared.

[…] middle of a lemon grove in the small town of Giarre. With a view of the Ionian Sea in front and Mt. Etna in back, the villa provided a wonderful place to stay as well as serving as home base for day trips […]

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About MJ

Mary Jo is an avid traveler, and when she’s not on a trip, she’s planning the next one. She always has a bag packed, ready for the next great adventure.
In addition to traveling, Mary Jo likes lingering over a cup of coffee, wandering in a museum, sipping wine at a cafe, enjoying a relaxing massage, and sharing it all with friends and readers.

Her most recent travels were to Spain, a river cruise on the Rhine, Orlando, and wine tasting in Walla Walla.